Article by FisterRoboto of lefthandhorror.com

Brewed by Russian River Brewing Company

$4.50/bomber

Style: American Double/Imperial IPA

8.0% ABV

Serve at 45-50

Enjoyed from a tulip glass and courtesy of Tony Florence from Lexington’s own Collectibles, ETC.

A: Pours a clear, golden hue with a finger of thick white foam. Beautiful lacing.

S: Huge floral and piney aroma instantly. This gives way to a little tropical fruit and malty sweetness. Man, this brew is breathtaking already.

T: Out of this world. The taste nearly mirrors the smell. Huge burst of resiny pine and floral flavors hit your tongue first. Still reeling from this first wave, the tropical fruit and mild citrusy hops hit next. There’s a touch of grapefruit hidden in there as well. The sweet malt flavor just rockets The Elder to the moon and back.

M: What a viscous DIPA to be so clear. Refreshingly dry and perfectly carbonated. Balance is the name of Pliny’s game.

O: I’ve been dying to try this beer, but living in KY has hurt my chances thus far. Thank God for a friend who just came back from CA with this stashed in his checked bag. I’m proud to call myself a hophead and Pliny the Elder just reinforces that DIPAs are the best stuff in the world. If you’re lucky enough to get some, just remember this is up there with Hopslam, Maharaja, Dreadnaught, and Abrasive, if not wholly ahead of them. I was expecting a full-on hopbomb when I cracked this. Pliney has a helluva reputation – I was thrilled to get a perfectly balanced DIPA versus some hop-crammed brew.

Pliny the Elder is phenomenal and it just might be my highest recommendation ever.